Ashes 2015: Australia coach Darren Lehmann not afraid to make changes

Australia coach Darren Lehmann is not afraid to make changes to his side ahead of this week's crucial second Ashes Test with England at Lord's.

The Baggy Greens went 1-0 down in the series after suffering a 169-run defeat at Cardiff in four days. The loss leaves Lehmann with some difficult decisions ahead of the second Test at Lord's, which begins on 16 July.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin is struggling for runs as is all-rounder Shane Watson and Lehmann has now revealed he has no issues with dropping players.

When asked if he could make changes for the second Test, Lehmann said: "Not necessarily but we will certainly have a look at the wicket and work out what our best 11 to win in those conditions is.

"If that means we have got to make changes, we will make changes. That won't be an issue for us as a selection panel.

"We picked a touring squad to retain and win the series and we certainly did that in the West Indies, but that's gone. We can't control the past and we can't control what has just happened.

"All we can do is learn from it and make sure we make the right decisions from it going forward, and that's involves selection but also the way we play."

We picked a touring squad to retain and win the series and we certainly did that in the West Indies, but that's gone. We can't control the past and we can't control what has just happened

- Darren Lehmann

One player who is rumoured to be close to a starting spot is all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, with Shane Watson the man he could replace.

Watson was dismissed LBW twice in Cardiff and has now been out that way 39 times in 59 Tests, leading to sections of the Australian media calling for the 34-year-old to be dropped.

Marsh, who is 11 years younger than Watson, is seen as the future all-rounder of the side and Lehmann has admitted he almost started the first Test in Cardiff.

When asked if Marsh was nearly in the side for the opening defeat, Lehmann said: "It was very close.

"So again it is going to be a tight call going into the second Test. We will wait till we get to London and have a look at how everyone pulls up over the next couple of days as it's a short turnaround.

"We will work out what is the best attack to take 20 wickets. The pleasing thing is again, we took 20 wickets in a Test match. We probably didn't get too many runs, but we can get 20 wickets."